In Russia, they want to reduce annual alcohol consumption per person by 15% in 8 years

The concept of reducing alcohol consumption in Russia for the period up to 2030, within which it is planned to reduce the amount of alcohol consumed in terms of pure alcohol to 7.7 liters per person per year, was developed by the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation.

7.7 liters per person per year is 15% lower than in 2019-2021.

According to the draft concept, which Interfax got acquainted with, it is planned to reduce the number of deaths caused by alcohol intake by almost a third. In 2021, there were 32.5 such deaths per 100 thousand of the population, they want to increase this figure to 23.3 cases.

The draft concept states that, according to the calculations of the RANEPA, in 2018, the number of alcohol-related deaths in the Russian Federation amounted to 196 thousand people, which is 11% of the total number of deaths in the country.

Men for this reason died 146 thousand (16.3% of deaths) women – 50 thousand (5.5% of deaths).

From 2008 to 2021, the death rate from alcohol poisoning has decreased by more than 62%. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the downward trend in alcohol consumption stopped at the level of 2019 (9.1 liters per year per person), the project says.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, in 2021, 28.1% of crimes were committed by persons under the influence of alcohol.

The draft states that “a comprehensive restrictive policy pursued by the state has shown its effectiveness in reducing alcohol consumption in the Russian Federation.” And it is noted that “the problem of the abuse of alcoholic products is still one of the highest priority tasks of the social policy of the Russian Federation.”

The concept assumes that by 2030, in addition to reducing the consumption of alcohol, including unregistered, there will be a decrease in the share of strong alcoholic beverages in the total volume of alcohol consumed. There will also be a decrease in deaths from alcohol-related diseases, the number of offenses committed while intoxicated, and the number of readmissions for alcohol dependence.